Lodging a complaint with a community housing provider

Registered community housing providers (housing providers) must have a mechanism in place for dealing with tenant complaints. Housing providers must also provide tenants with information and help on how to raise complaints with them.

Step 1 – Raise your concerns with the housing provider

Generally complaints will be addressed by the housing provider without the involvement of the Registrar. It is important when making a complaint to keep written evidence of concerns and any ongoing developments, in case the matter is not resolved.

Step 2 – Lodge a formal complaint with the housing provider

If the concerns have been raised informally with the housing provider, but you are unhappy with the response, you may need to make a formal complaint to the housing provider.

Housing providers must have formal complaint handling processes and policies. When a formal complaint is lodged the housing provider will deal with the complaint in accordance with those policies.

What if I am not happy with the provider’s response to my formal complaint?

If you believe your concerns have not been appropriately addressed by your housing provider, or that your housing provider has not followed its policies and procedures, you may wish to explore other avenues, such as:

• seeking the support and advice of a tenancy advocacy service, or
• lodging a claim with your local Residential Tenancy Tribunal.  Residential Tenancy Tribunals deal with matters relating to the tenancy agreement such as rent or maintenance issues. 

What if my complaint is serious or of a sensitive nature?

If you believe a complaint to be of such a serious or sensitive nature that it needs the direct involvement of the Registrar (or other regulatory body), without prior notification to your housing provider, then you should contact your local Registrar’s office.  In most cases this will be the Registrar in the state or territory where the housing is located.  The Registrar will then decide the best way to progress any complaint.